U.S. patent number 5,163,928 [Application Number 07/877,272] was granted by the patent office on 1992-11-17 for self-centering catheter.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Franklin Electronic Publishers, Incorporated. Invention is credited to William A. Appling, Irvin F. Hawkins, Eamonn Hobbs.
United States Patent |
5,163,928 |
Hobbs , et al. |
November 17, 1992 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Self-centering catheter
Abstract
An elongated tubular catheter adapted for use in an artery or
vein is provided. The catheter has a central axis, a proximal end
and a distal end. The catheter has a distal portion including a
curved portion and an end portion. The end portion has a first
opening. The curved portion defines a zone substantially encircling
the central axis and has openings facing the axis. The catheter
terminates in the end portion. The end portion extends from the
curved portion to a position substantially along the axis facing
proximally. In use the curved portion centers the catheter and
causes the end portion first opening and all other openings to be
spaced from the wall of the artery or vein.
Inventors: |
Hobbs; Eamonn (Queensbury,
NY), Appling; William A. (Hartford, NY), Hawkins; Irvin
F. (Micanopy, FL) |
Assignee: |
Franklin Electronic Publishers,
Incorporated (Mt. Holly, NJ)
|
Family
ID: |
27093072 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/877,272 |
Filed: |
April 29, 1992 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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638376 |
Jan 7, 1991 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
604/532 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
25/0041 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
25/00 (20060101); A61M 025/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;604/8,264,280,281
;128/656,658 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0132344 |
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Jan 1985 |
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EP |
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0154403 |
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Nov 1985 |
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EP |
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0346012 |
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Dec 1989 |
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EP |
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1263097 |
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Apr 1961 |
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FR |
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Primary Examiner: Yasko; John D.
Assistant Examiner: Gutowski; Anthony
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McAulay Fisher Nissen Goldberg
& Kiel
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/638,376 filed
Jan. 7, 1991 (now abandoned).
Claims
What is claimed:
1. In an elongated tubular catheter adapted for use in an artery or
a vein, said catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and
having a straight portion with a central axis extending to a point
proximal to the distal end, the improvement comprising:
a distal portion including a curved portion extending distal from
said point, and an end portion;
said curved portion defining a zone substantially encircling the
central axis;
said catheter terminating in said end portion, said end portion
extending from said curved portion to a position substantially
along said axis;
said curved portion being formed with at least one opening therein,
said at least one opening facing toward said central axis;
said catheter having no opening facing away from said central
axis;
whereby in use said curved portion centers said catheter and causes
said end portion and said at least one opening to be spaced from
the wall of the artery or vein.
2. The catheter of claim 1 and further comprising additional
openings formed in said curved portion, all of said additional
openings facing toward said central axis.
3. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said curved portion is curved in
its normal state and wherein said curved portion is capable of
being straightened for a period of time and then assuming its
normal curved state due to the resiliency of the material from
which said catheter is formed.
4. The catheter of claim 3 wherein said catheter is formed of
nylon.
5. The catheter of claim 2 wherein said first opening and said
additional openings are positioned within about one centimeter of
each other when said curved portion is in said normal curved
state.
6. The catheter of claim 1 and further including an opening in said
end portion, said end portion opening facing toward said proximal
end of said catheter.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a catheter useable for
angiographic procedures and more particularly to such a catheter
which is useable for delivery of contrast media at appropriate flow
rates and pressures.
Angiographic catheters are provided in four basic shapes: straight,
single curve, multiple curve, and pigtail. Pigtail catheters permit
an uneven distribution of rapidly injected contrast media while
allowing end hole and side hole jetting. Uses for pigtail catheters
include aortography, arteriography, and angiography. To introduce a
pigtail catheter into a vessel a guide wire is used to straightened
the catheter. The catheter is formed of a resilient material so
that the catheter can resume its normal shape when the guide wire
is removed.
When contrast media is ejected from a standard catheter at a high
velocity, the stream of media ejected may cause damage to the
artery or vein being studied. Such damage occurs when the high
velocity stream displaces plaque in the vessel or perforates the
vessel wall. Additionally, damage can be caused to the vessel wall
by contact with the catheter tip itself, and, the catheter tip in
turn may be damaged by such contact.
During high pressure injection pigtail catheters can uncoil at the
tip, turning the pigtail into a hook shape, which can send a
jetting stream of contrast directly at the vessel wall. Also during
high pressure injection the catheter tip will flap around allowing
the uncoiled tip to bash into the vessel wall violently, causing
trauma.
In performing angiographic studies it is preferable to use as
little contrast media as possible. This maximizes patient safety
while minimizing the expense of the procedure.
It is a purpose of the present invention to provide an angiographic
catheter which is capable of delivering a contrast media, at high
pressure, into the vascular system while protecting the vascular
system from injury.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of such a
catheter which minimizes the amount of contrast media needed to
complete a study.
Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of
such a catheter having a tip protected from inadvertent contact
with the vessel wall.
Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of
such a catheter having all of its side ports on the inner radius of
the tip curve, thus preventing the exiting contrast jet from being
pressed against the artery wall, reducing any chance of contrast
jet induced trauma.
Yet a further object of the present invention is that the distal
tip is shaped to direct flow in an antegrade fashion, while
simultaneously preventing the tip from pointing directly at a
vessel side wall, reducing trauma.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a self-centering angiographic
catheter. The catheter has a central axis, a proximal end, and a
distal end. The catheter includes a distal segment having a curved
portion and an end portion. The end portion is provided with an
opening. The curved portion defines a zone substantially encircling
the catheter central axis. The catheter terminates in the end
portion which extends from the curved portion to a position
substantially along the axis. In use the curved portion centers the
catheter and causes the end portion, with its associated opening,
to be spaced from the wall of the artery or vein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of the elongated catheter of the present
invention with the middle segment of the catheter not shown;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the distal portion of the FIG. 1
catheter.
FIG. 3 is an end view of the distal portion of the FIG. 1
catheter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings the reference numeral 10 denotes the
self-centering catheter of the present invention. Catheter 10 has a
proximal end 12 and a distal end 14. Catheter 10 has a central
axis.
Catheter 10 includes a distal segment 16 having a normally curved
portion 18 and an end portion 20. End portion 20 is formed with a
first end opening 22 therein.
Curved portion 18 defines a zone which substantially encircles the
central axis of the catheter. Catheter 10 terminates in end portion
20 which extends from the curved portion 18 to a position
substantially along the axis of the catheter pointing proximally.
In use curved portion 18 centers catheter 10 in the lumen of the
vessel being studied and more specifically curved portion 18
centers end portion 20 and first opening 22 such that inadvertent
contact between the vessel wall and end portion 20 is avoided. This
prevents damage to either the catheter end portion 20 or to the
vessel wall. Because the tip is pointing proximally the contrast
bolus is much tighter, hence less contrast will be used.
In a preferred embodiment curved portion 18 is formed with a
plurality of additional openings 24 therein. Openings 24 are all
positioned such that they face inward of curved portion 18. This
positioning of additional openings 24, in conjunction with the
centering of end first opening 22, directs the stream of contrast
media towards the center of the vessel where the blood absorbs the
energy before the high velocity stream reaches the vessel wall.
This reduces the chance of contrast extravasation or embolism due
to displaced plaque.
In order to introduce catheter 10 into a vessel it is necessary to
straighten normally curved portion 18. After introduction the
normally curved portion be capable of reassuming its curved
configuration. Thus catheter 10 is formed of a material, such as
nylon, with sufficient resiliency to permit this to occur.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention when the
catheter 10 is in its coiled configuration the first opening 22,
and the additional openings 24, are positioned within about one
centimeter of each other. This produces a tight bolus of contrast
media and reduces the amount of contrast media needed in order to
do a study. In this preferred embodiment there are ten additional
openings 24. Additional openings 24 may be holes, slits or any
other appropriate opening.
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